Submissions

Author Guidelines

Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.

All the manuscripts must be submitted in English and prepared in accordance with the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing and publication of scholarly work in medical journals. The complete document is available at: http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/. When submitting manuscripts authors should follow ICMJE’S manuscript preparation and submission guidelines.

Please make sure that manuscripts are prepared in accordance to the corresponding reporting guidelines for the type of article you are submitting from EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research). Eg, If you are submitting a systematic review, the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines should be followed and a Checklist should be provided with the manuscript.

Graphical Abstract

In addition to the ICJME manuscript and submission guidelines, it is recommended that all manuscripts should be submitted with a graphical abstract/visual abstract (a graphic that summarizes the key conclusions of the paper or provide a simplification of a table or figure that will draw reader’s interest. The graphic should be labelled as ‘graphical abstract’  Accepted formats are PNG/JPEG:

• Size: Submitted image should be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch)
• Content: the abstract should consist of one single panel

Authorship

On the manuscript’s title page, authors should give their full names and the name, city and country of their institutions. The corresponding author must also provide a full postal address, which will be published with their email address. If an author has several affiliations, only the primary institution should be provided. The criteria for authorship described in the ICMJE recommendations must be rigorously observed. Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work being reported to take public responsibility for the paper’s content and each author’s contribution should be described in the online submission system (not within the manuscript itself).

Manuscript Preparation and Formatting Guidelines

Technical Requirements

Manuscripts submitted to Updates in Dentistry must be in Microsoft Word format. Illustrations can be uploaded as PDF, JPEG, TIFF, or Microsoft PowerPoint files. If artwork is created in Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, PowerPoint, or Excel, please submit the original file. For more details, refer to the Figures and Tables section below.

Length

Word limits vary depending on the article type, excluding the title page, abstract, acknowledgments, references, and illustrations (tables, figures, text boxes). Refer to the Article Types table for specific limits.

Page Setup

Manuscripts should have 1-inch margins, with pages numbered consecutively.

Title Page

Each manuscript must include a separate title page to ensure author anonymity during the peer review process. The title page should contain the following:

• Full manuscript title and author details.
• Author names, degrees, professional titles, and work affiliations. Degrees below the master’s level are generally omitted unless it is the highest degree obtained.
• Corresponding author details for reprint requests after publication.
• Conflict of interest and funding statements for all authors.
• Institutional review board approval or waiver statement.
• Clinical trial registration details, if applicable.
• Acknowledgments, if applicable.

Tables and Figures

Tables and figures should supplement the text without repeating content. They must be numbered consecutively as cited.

Tables: Clearly define variables and use consistent units and phrasing throughout. Include measurement units in row and column headings. P values should be reported in detail (e.g., P < .001), and footnotes should define abbreviations and outline the analytical approach.

Figures: Only digital files with a resolution of at least 300 dpi and a width of 4 inches (or 100 mm) will be accepted. For clinical figures, acceptable formats are JPEG, TIFF, or PowerPoint. Any identifiable patients must provide a signed Updates in Dentistry photo release form.

Supplemental Data

All supplemental data should be submitted with the manuscript to allow full review.

Writing and Style Guidelines

Updates in Dentistry follows the 11th edition of the AMA Manual of Style. Manuscripts should be clear and concise, written in active voice with declarative sentences. A professional tone is expected, though personal opinions may be included if backed by clear reasoning or observations. Factual and opinion statements should be supported by references from the relevant literature.

Title: The manuscript title should clearly express the main point or purpose of the article. Subheads should be used to emphasize key sections, and titles may be revised during editing.

Statistical Reporting

Research manuscripts must include a calculation of the required sample size for detecting meaningful effects. Interpretation of results should be based on the primary outcome measure and pre-specified statistical analysis. Confidence intervals for effect sizes and associations should be included, and P values should be reported with proper precision.

Oral Health Research Characteristics

Oral health studies often require consideration of specific factors, such as multiple teeth or sites, loss of teeth over time, and the potential to perform split-mouth studies. Analytical methods should account for repeated observations within the same individual.

References

References should be cited consecutively in the text using superscript Arabic numerals and numbered in the order they appear. Do not cite references in the abstract. Follow the formatting guidelines from the AMA Manual of Style for journals, books, chapters, websites, and data references.

We Accept Ethical Use of AI in Writing Scientific Research Article Manuscripts

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for writing scientific research manuscripts must be approached with caution and integrity to maintain high ethical standards in research and publication. Below are acceptable terms for the ethical use of AI in writing scientific articles:

1. Transparency and Acknowledgment

When AI tools are used to assist in writing, generating text, or conducting data analysis, their role must be clearly stated. Authors should explicitly mention the use of AI in the manuscript’s methods or acknowledgments section, describing how the technology was used (e.g., for text generation, language editing, or data analysis). Failure to do so could mislead readers and peer reviewers about the origin of the content.

2. Human Oversight

AI tools should be used as assistive technologies and not replace the intellectual input and oversight of the authors. Human authors must maintain full responsibility for the content, including accuracy, interpretation of results, and overall conclusions. The final manuscript should be critically reviewed and approved by all contributing authors, regardless of how much AI assisted in the writing process.

3. Avoiding Plagiarism

AI-generated text or paraphrased content must not lead to plagiarism. Authors must ensure that all AI-generated content is original or properly cited if the AI used any publicly available or proprietary information as a source. Even when using AI tools to generate text, proper citation and adherence to copyright laws remain the responsibility of the authors.

4. Accuracy and Integrity of Data

AI tools may be used to assist in data analysis or interpretation, but they must not introduce errors or distort findings. Authors should verify all AI outputs, ensuring they align with the scientific evidence presented in the research. Any results or insights generated through AI should be cross-validated by the authors to prevent the dissemination of inaccurate or misleading information.

5. Bias and Fairness

AI models may carry biases based on the data they are trained on. It is crucial for authors to assess any AI-generated content for biases, especially in studies involving sensitive topics such as health, race, or social behaviors. Ethical scientific writing involves presenting data and findings impartially, and AI tools should not compromise this principle.

6. Preserving the Author’s Voice

AI-generated text should not replace the unique voice or expertise of the authors. While AI can assist with grammar, language refinement, or summarization, the core ideas, arguments, and scientific conclusions should reflect the intellectual contribution of the human authors. The authors’ reasoning, methodology, and discussion of results must remain central to the manuscript.

Following AI Declaration Statement should be added to the manuscript with the list of AI tools used with their specific purpose and areas of use, if authors use AI tools in manuscript preparation:

"In the preparation of this manuscript, AI tools were used ethically and responsibly in accordance with established terms. Human oversight was maintained throughout the process to ensure accuracy and originality, avoiding plagiarism and ensuring proper citation. Any AI-generated content was critically assessed for bias and relevance. The authors affirm that the AI's role did not compromise the integrity of the research and the manuscript reflects their original scientific contributions."